The Real Housewives of Orange County star, who wrote a handwritten letter to a judge in 2010 to get Brooks released from jail after his arrest for not paying child support (he owed over $40,000 to two different women), is vehemently defending Brooks. “He is not a deadbeat dad,” says Vicki.

“He is a wonderful man and a wonderful father,” a very emotional Vicki told the Rumor Fix. “He has integrity and loves his children more than life. He just fell on hard times, like we all did. He works in a commission-based business as do I, and his child support payment amounts were based on when he was making a lot more money. He couldn’t pay his child support and in the state of Mississippi the laws make it very difficult.”

Gretchen Vicki continued on with her defense of Brooks despite the court documents that make it clear he was a deadbeat dad. “He is not a deadbeat dad, and he’s paid $110,000 since 2008 to his ex,” adds Vicki. “I knew about the DUI and the other arrests, because he has never lied to me about anything. Everyone has a past. No one is perfect.”

Yes, in addition to Brooks’ arrests last year for child support delinquency, he was also arrested back in 2009 for a DUI. Reality Tea obtained the above mugshot for Brooks’ DUI arrest on June, 16, 2009 in Florida. The arrest record listed him as self-employed and his occupation as “Insurance.”

Vicki also goes on to state that she cares for Brooks very deeply and that she is worried her new relationship might not survive in light of all the negative press. “For me it was a new life and a new page,” says Vicki. “He treats me the best I’ve ever been treated, but because of all the harassment, we probably won’t make it. He doesn’t deserve it and I can’t subject anyone to this.”

Interesting how Vicki sounds a lot like Gretchen when she’s defending her boyfriend Slade Smiley, much to the criticism of Vicki who has stated in the past that court documents don’t lie.

Vicki also took to her facebook page on Thursday and put up the following quote, “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” Funny how it’s okay when she’s bashing Slade for not paying his child support, but when others do it to her beau, it’s called gasps – “judging.”

And unfortunately for Vicki, the bad news doesn’t end with the above. An ex-girlfriend of Brooks has now come out today stating that Vicki and Brooks have been involved with each other for years.

Debbie Keanetells Radar Online that she started dating Brooks in 2005 and had an encounter with a jealous Vicki back in 2007, while she was still married to Donn Gunvalson. “I was tagging along on a business trip with Brooks in 2007 in West Palm Beach, Florida and he kept talking about how his friend who was famous was coming to the conference,” said Debbie.

Upon Vicki’s arrival, she immediately sought Brooks out.“She sent him a text saying ‘finally here, I need a drink,’” said Debbie. Two nights later, Debbie adds that she and Brooks were in a bar when Vicki walked in, so she decided to confront Vicki about flirting with Brooks. “She told me to mind my own business and then went and told Brooks he needed to ‘keep your girl in check.’”

Vicki, while admitting she was at the conference with Debbie and Brooks in 2007, denies Debbie’s version of events. Debbie “was really nice and complimented me on the show and on my outfit,” said Vicki also insisting she was at the conference with Donn.

As many of our readers have pointed out, Brooks appears to be the same guy that was shown this season on the OC Housewives flirting with Vicki during her trip to Cabo. That trip was billed as a girls trip to Mexico with only Tamra and Vicki. So we ask, if it was Brooks in Cabo, how did he end up on the same trip?

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON VICKI DEFENDING BROOKS? DO YOU THINK SHE WAS CHEATING ON DONN WITH HIM?